On the Boards: Kannapolis Gateway

On the heels of our Center City bridge improvements, Wagner Murray is once again in the final stages of a new bridge design. This time, the project is Bridge and Platform Improvements for the Kannapolis Train Station. The Kannapolis Gateway project, undertaken by the North Carolina Rail Division, advances the efforts to modify and upgrade stations along the route, and to make each station unique and relevant to the increasing demand for rail service.

3D rendering of proposed Kannapolis Gateway design, Jan 2019.

A conceptual programmatic element of the design required that the project be viewed as a modern gateway into Kannapolis. The program presents an opportunity to energize the station with a monumental and memorable design feature. Our solution integrates a portal as an element to both signify a grand entrance and celebrate the point of entry. The portal over the tracks announces the trains’ arrival into the city. It is a fitting beacon that celebrates the joy of train travel, while establishing a symbol for the Kannapolis community.